AFA Awarded Appalachian Regional Commission Grant For Domotex Program

The Dalton, Ga.-based American
Floorcovering Alliance (AFA) recently received a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission — a
federal/state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for
self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life. The grant is to be used for AFA’s
export initiative program for Domotex 2007 in Hannover, Germany.

Domotex, a leading floor covering trade show, is an important venue for floor covering
companies to showcase their products in an international setting. AFA states that the grant will
help create and sustain jobs in northwest Georgia, particularly small companies who find it
difficult to participate in international trade shows.

“From our many years of experience at Domotex, we know that if small Georgia companies can
afford to go, it will generate sales, expand their overseas distribution and create jobs,” said
Wanda Ellis, executive director, AFA.

To secure the grant, Ellis worked with Robert Erwin, International Trade Center consultant,
University of Georgia Small Business Development Center; Rick Martin, senior international trade
specialist, Georgia Department of Economic Development, International Trade Division; and the staff
of the North Georgia Regional Development Center, Dalton.


March 14, 2006

Propex To Sell Plant To Aladdin

Austell, Ga.-based Propex Fabrics Inc. has agreed to sell its Roanoke, Ala.-based Roanoke Mills
plant to Aladdin Manufacturing Corp. – Calhoun, Ga.-based Mohawk Industries Inc.’s manufacturer of
the Aladdin by Mohawk brand of residential carpet. The companies expect the sale, which is subject
to regulatory approvals, to be completed in early April 2006.

About 470 employees currently produce secondary carpet backing at the Roanoke site.

“Propex has been a major supplier of
secondary backing to Mohawk,” said Jeff Lorberbaum, chairman and CEO, Mohawk. “They have earned a
reputation as a solid manufacturing organization for quality, service and value. We look forward to
welcoming their employees into the Mohawk family and becoming a part of these communities.”


March 7, 2006

Administration Outlines Its Trade Agenda

The US Trade Representative (USTR) has sent Congress a review of 2005 and an outline of its agenda
for 2006 that calls for completion of the Doha Round of trade negotiations by year’s end and
continuing efforts to negotiate bilateral and regional pacts designed to open markets for US
exports.

“The potential benefits from the successful Doha Round for the United States and its trading
partners, especially in the developing nations, are enormous, and we will continue to do all we can
to achieve a successful result. In parallel to its Doha Round efforts, the administration will move
vigorously to negotiate new bilateral and regional trade agreements to create a host of new
opportunities for US workers, farmers and businesses, USTR Rob Portman said.”

Emphasizing that it is important that trade rules be “fair and aggressively enforced” Portman
assured lawmakers the administration will continue to use “all available tools” to ensure trading
partners live up to their international trade obligations. He said the emergence of China as a
global trading partner has created both challenges and opportunities, and he pointed out that the
administration has ordered a top-to-bottom review of its trade policies involving China in order to
“better monitor and enforce” China’s compliance with its obligations as a WTO member.

Portman said the administration’s “vigorous” free trade efforts in the coming year will be
designed to promote economic growth and stability in other countries as well as new US job
opportunities. 

March 7, 2006

Jordache Adds VF’s Earl Jean Brand

Jordache Enterprises Inc., a New York
City-based apparel and denim manufacturer and marketer, and a group of private investors have
acquired Greensboro, N.C.-based VF Corporation’s Earl Jean® brand. The sale price was not
disclosed.

Jordache will add Earl Jean to its denim business’s offerings.

“The acquisition of Earl will continue to cement our position as a leader in denim and
apparel manufacturing,” said Liz Berlinger, president. “We think this will be a great fit for our
company and we have already had interest from some major retailers.”


March 7, 2006

Tex Tech To Supply Airbus Fire Barrier Materials

Tex Tech Industries, a Portland,
Maine-based high-tech textiles manufacturer, has signed an agreement with commercial jetliner maker
Airbus S.A.S., France, whereby Tex Tech will produce the fire barrier materials used in the
passenger cabins of the company’s new and existing aircraft. Airbus reports it currently has 30
orders for new aircraft in 2006.

The deal signals long-term growth and stability, especially for Tex Tech’s North Monmouth,
Maine-based facility, which has 200-plus employees, according to the company.

“This is a great achievement for Tex Tech, working with one of the largest and most
progressive aircraft manufacturers in the world,” said John Stankiewicz, chief operating officer,
Tex Tech. “Not only does it represent a significant achievement, but more importantly, it is a
testament to the innovation and hard work that is happening right here in Maine.”


March 7, 2006

March/April 2006

Philadelphia University, Philadelphia, appointed
Marcia Meyers Weiss visiting assistant professor in woven design.

meyers
Meyers Weiss

Bristol, Pa.-based
Jones Apparel Group Inc. has promoted
Stacy Lastrina to executive vice president, marketing. Other recent appointments
at Jones Apparel include
Andrew Cohen to the new position of president, Wholesale Footwear and Accessories;
and
Heather Pech, president, Company-Owned Retail Footwear and Apparel.
Jack Gross was named group CEO for all denim and junior businesses; and
Barry Bates was appointed president, l.e.i. and Energie brands, reporting to
Gross.

Udo Skarke has joined
Erhardt + Leimer Inc., Spartanburg, as Textile Division manager for North America,
with a focus on web processes and straightening technology. The company also named
Dave Fincher assistant Textile Division manager.

skarke
Skarke

Gaetano Sallorenzo has joined
The Warnaco Group Inc., New York City, as president and CEO for Europe and Asia of
the recently acquired Calvin Klein Jeans and Sportswear division.

Wichita, Kan.-based
INVISTA has appointed
Jeff Gentry chairman of the Board of Directors.
Jim Mahoney and
Mark Humphrey also have joined the board.
Mary Beth Jarvis, formerly communications director at Invista parent Koch
Industries, has been appointed vice president of public and governmental affairs for Invista.

Robert C. Skinner Jr. was elected chairman of St. Louis-based
Kellwood Co. He also will continue as president and CEO of the company.

skinner
Skinner

The National Retail Federation, Washington, has hired
Kathleen Grannis as manager of media relations.

Daryl T. Bowman, Ph.D., professor of cotton breeding at North Carolina State
University, is the recipient of the 2005 Cotton Genetics Research Award conferred by the
Cotton Council of America, Memphis, Tenn.

Cliff Fox, Capron, Va.;
Joe Bostick, Golden, Miss.;
Lawrence Braswell, Raymondville, Texas; and
Wally Shropshire, Blythe, Calif., are the winners of the 2006
Farm Press/Cotton Foundation High Cotton Awards. The award recognizes farmers who
are dedicated to taking care of their land and protecting the environment while producing good
cotton crops.

Two retiring harvesting researchers –
W. Stanley Anthony, US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Research
Service (ARS) Cotton Ginning Laboratory, Stoneville, Miss.; and
Alan Brashears, Cotton Production and Processing Research Unit of USDA-ARS,
Lubbock, Texas – were honored by their peers at the recent Memphis-based
National Cotton Ginners Association‘s reception, held at the 2006 Beltwide Cotton
Conferences.

Emily Liggett, president and CEO of San Jose, Calif.-based Apexon Inc., has been
appointed to the Board of Directors at Wilmington, Del.-based
Textronics Inc.

liggett
Liggett

Everett Eissenstat has joined senior
US Trade Representative (USTR) staff, Washington, as assistant USTR for the
Americas. He is responsible for developing and implementing US trade policy in the region.

Boulder, Colo.-based
Outlast Technologies Inc. has hired
Vann Brown as vice president of business development.

brown
Brown

The Organic Trade Association, Greenfield, Mass., has named
Caren Wilcox executive director.

Tony Bon has been promoted to chief operating officer of Ferndale, Wash.-based
Samson Rope Technologies Inc.
Mark Swiackey is the company’s new vice president of operations. Samson’s
Commercial Marine Division has promoted
Larry Unser to regional sales manager, with responsibility for the Commercial
Fishing Division; and
Craig Kelly and
Dennis Sherman to category sales managers. In addition,
Robin Collett has joined the Commercial Marine sales team as regional sales
manager with responsibility for the United Kingdom, Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

March/April 2006

Atlas To Create Single Florida Weather Testing Facility

Atlas Weathering Services Group (AWSG), a division of Chicago-based Atlas Material Testing
Technology LLC, has bought 18 acres of land in Miami. The company plans to create a consolidated
weathering exposure center by combining its existing South Florida Test Service (SFTS) Everglades
site and the newly acquired land.

“As development has encroached on our SFTS site at Okeechobee Road and we have continued to
operate two separate test sites in Miami, we have now realized our goal to consolidate our sites in
the most pristine testing environment in south Florida,” said Jack Martin, president, AWSG. “The
expanded facilities of our Everglades site will serve as the ASWG worldwide headquarters,
comprising … the world’s most sophisticated accelerated weathering laboratory, outdoor weathering
services and sample evaluation facilities.”

The company currently is moving some test exposures to the Everglades site.

March/April 2006

Mecmesin Label Returns To United States, Canada

England-based Mecmesin Ltd., a designer and supplier of force and torque measurement solutions, now
is directly marketing its line in the United States and Canada.

The company, which sells its products via a new distributor network, now offers several new
products to the US market, including the MultiTest-x range of console-controlled test frames and a
set of newly designed, lower-cost digital force gauges. A group of higher-capacity twin column test
frames will soon be available.

“With this broader product offering, we are looking to control the promotion of these new
developments more efficiently and at the same time step closer to the US end-user,” said Robert J.
Oakley, owner and board chairman, Mecmesin.

The company’s US office is based in Sterling, Va.

March/April 2006

SDL Atlas Reps Tinius Olsen, Supplies Digi-Eye To NCSU Lab

England-based SDL Atlas has been named the exclusive worldwide sales agent for universal testing
machines (UTMs) from Horsham, Pa.-based Tinius Olsen Inc. SDL Atlas now offers single- and
dual-column Tinius Olsen UTMs that are designed for use on all types of materials to test flexure,
tension, compression, shear and peel. The UTMs are programmed with TexMat/Pro Testing software,
which features test specifications, machine setup instructions and report formats for almost 300
international textile testing methods.

In other company news, the Datacolor Color Science Laboratory at the College of Textiles of
Raleigh, N.C.-based North Carolina State University (NCSU) has acquired and operates the first SDL
Atlas DigiEye digital imaging system in an academic facility. The unit is being used in research
projects to measure the fastness of small, colored objects to staining and washing, according to
NCSU College of Textiles faculty member David Hinks, Ph.D. The system also may be used in research
projects involving 3-D objects that are too small to be measured using a traditional reflectance
spectrophotometer.

March/April 2006

Optimer Adds Dri-release® Spinners

Wilmington, Del-based
Elan Textile Co. Ltd.
has licensed three new spinners —
Taiwan-based Elan Textile Co. Ltd., China-based Sunshell Group and Germany-based Zwickhauer
Kammgarn GmbH — to manufacture yarn using man-made and natural fibers with its dri-release® with
FreshGuard® patented moisture-release, odor-neutralizing technology.

The companies were chosen for their capabilities and geographic locations with the intention
of making the technology readily available to worldwide apparel and accessory customers, OPF
reported. The new spinners will join the company’s total of 11 licensees in Europe and Asia.

“More than just geographic availability, however, our spinners/partners must be
well-established and share our same management philosophy, including effective response to customer
needs and wishes,” said Karen Deniz, managing director, marketing, OPF.


March/April 2006

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